Draft Telangana Bill in November అక్టోబర్ 27, 2013

Hyderabad: The Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted to prepare the Telangana Bill had its second meeting on Saturday in New Delhi. It was decided to stick to the issues that were already cleared by both the Congress Working Committee and the Union Cabinet. It was tentatively decided to prepare the Draft Telangana Bill by November 20.

Sources said the GoM was not willing to consider any deviations from the Terms of Reference. Home minister and convener of the GoM Sushilkumar Shinde insisted that the law and order subject be retained by the Centre as long as Hyderabad remains the joint capital of both states.

It is also reliably learnt that all the major irrigation dams on the River Krishna in the state will come under the control of joint boards comprising officials from the two states with officials from the Central Water Commission heading the panels on a permanent basis.
Sources further informed that the contentious Article 371(D) and (E) incorporated in the Constitution for allowing the zonal system in respect of admissions in educational institutions and public employment will not prevent the Central government from proceeding with the bifurcation process.

The GoM has come to an understanding that the said Articles will continue to be in operation even after bifurcation, and the necessary amendments could be incorporated to facilitate continuation of zones in both the states in the Telangana Bill.
The GoM had initially opined that any changes in Article 371 (D) and (E) need not necessarily be considered as an amendment to the Constitution within the meaning of Article 368, and they could be amended as part of Article 4 as consequential and incidental.

A number of issues concerning the Terms of References were discussed at the GoM meeting and the members took inputs and status notes from the various departments, including officials from the Andhra Pradesh Government. The time limit for people to mail or post their suggestions to the MHA was extended till November 5.

CM asked to get T Bill, Resolution to Assembly

Hyderabad: The united Andhra Pradesh Congress MLAs and MLCs requested the Chief Minister, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, to convince the Centre to refer the Resolution and Bill on bifurcation, to the state Assembly.

Seemandhra MLAs and MLCs forum convener and minister S. Sailajanath, along with MLAs and MLCs, met the Chief Minister at his camp office on Saturday, and submitted a memorandum. The Chief Minister assured them that he will convey their feelings to the Centre.

In the memorandum they said, “We are expecting the Resolution and the Bill, on division of the state, will be referred to the state Assembly for views, as required under Constitutional provisions.

This is being allayed by the rumors that are prevailing that the Government of India is thinking of bypassing the Assembly Resolution on this. If it happens it is most undemocratic and against the true spirit of our great Federal Constitution. The Indian democracy shall face so many problems.”

They said in spite of a strong opposition, not paying heed to the sentiments of the people of Andhra and Rayalaseema, the Central government took a unilateral decision to di-vide the state and carve out Telangana state from erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh.

The MLAs and MLCs said they have strong belief that the Centre is not taking the Seemandhra leaders into confidence.